Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil a plan to crack down on street crime, declaring that shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have "wreaked havoc on our neighbourhoods".
The announcement, on Thursday, comes amid growing concerns about the lack of visible police presence on Britain's streets.
This absence is believed to be driving street crime and, in turn, more serious and violent offences.
The Government's initiative aims to put more "bobbies on the beat" as part of a broader neighbourhood policing guarantee.
Starmer has announced plans for "more bobbies on the beat"
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The plan represents a shift towards preventative policing rather than simply responding after crimes occur.
The Government has outlined that its early focus will be on assigning named local officers to each neighbourhood, with plans to add 13,000 more officers by 2029.
The initiative includes guaranteed police patrols during busy periods in town centres and "hotspot" areas, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Every police force will also have a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead.
These specialists will be tasked with developing tailored action plans in collaboration with local residents and businesses.
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The comprehensive approach aims to address the "postcode lottery" of policing, ensuring consistent coverage across communities.
Starmer said: "Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on the streets they call home. It is just about the most basic right that anyone would expect."
He added: "Yet for years, crimes such as shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have wreaked havoc on our neighbourhoods. Policing has become reactive, picking up the pieces after crimes have occurred."
The Prime Minister emphasised that "Britain deserves better...It should not matter where you live, everyone deserves local, visible policing they can trust."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said police on the street is the' heartbeat of our great British policing tradition'
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Starmer described the initiative as "our plan for change" that would deliver "security for working people in their communities."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper echoed the Prime Minister's sentiments, saying: "The heartbeat of our great British policing tradition is seeing bobbies on the beat."
She criticised the current situation where "too many communities have been feeling abandoned as crime soared and neighbourhood police disappeared."
Cooper highlighted that this occurred "even when local crimes like shop theft, street theft or blatant drug dealing rose sharply" adding she was committed to Labour's pledge to addressing inequalities in policing coverage.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp
PAConservative MP Chris Philp, the shadow Home Secretary, has challenged Labour to "get a grip" on policing resources. He linked potential cuts to police jobs to the rise in employer national insurance contributions.
"Thanks to Labour's jobs tax, our police services face a £118 million shortfall, putting over 1,800 police jobs at risk," Philp said.
He also claimed the Metropolitan Police are cutting 1,700 jobs and services, including removing officers from schools.
"The previous Conservative government delivered record police officers, but law and order is taking a back seat under Labour," he added. Philp urged the Government to ensure police have adequate resources to "cut crime and keep the British people safe."
